The 2026 Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron (RNZYS) Three Kings Offshore Race is underway, with the fleet making an impressive start and already tracking ahead of record pace.
Seven yachts are currently powering north after a near-ideal start from Westhaven Tower in Auckland at 1100 hours on Thursday 16 April. A 15–20 knot south-westerly breeze provided fast downwind conditions, allowing crews to push hard from the outset. Gusts of up to 30 knots were reported, prompting some teams to reef early, a decision that proved prudent in the building breeze.
Six hours into the race, leading yachts Clockwork (Steve Mair), Mr Kite II (Nathan Williams), Motorboat III (Damon & Jacqui Jolliffe), and Equilibrium (Graham Mathews) are all tracking ahead of the 2022 race record set by Wired (Rob Bassett / Brett Russell).
Clockwork. 2026 RNZYS Three Kings Offshore Race. Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die
Clockwork has established an early lead of over 10 nautical miles ahead of Mr Kite II, maintaining speeds in excess of 12 knots as the fleet heads toward Cape Brett. The yacht is also leading the fleet on PHRF overall, with all seven competitors racing in a single division.
Further back, Equilibrium has already settled into its watch system as the crew prepares for the demands of the offshore course, maintaining speeds of approximately 12.8 knots.
With favourable conditions continuing, the fleet is making the most of a fast and dynamic opening to the race.
Race followers can track the fleet and stay updated via the official RNZYS channels.
